New rifle decision to make, need advise

[tracker1955]

I have a buyer for my boat so have some expendable cash to use for a higher-end toy than previous purchases, all-in budget is $2500 for rifle and scope. The ones I'm looking at are these.... FX Maverick sniper, Brocock Commander XR Magnum, FX Wildcat Sniper, and FX Dream Classic with GRS laminate stock, all in 25cal. Considerations are weight,(the lighter the better) good trigger, accuracy, available power ( but can be dialed back) possible slug use along with pellets.

Scopes I want first focal plane, turrets good enough to dial, decent glass, and not overly heavy, lifetime warranty.  Suggestions welcomed
Have considered the Element Optics Helix but many say the eye box is small. Does anyone have firsthand experience with this scope? I don't want to buy into all the Youtube hype.

[Duckster]

Don't be foolish - get another boat 

[ranchibi]

Congratulations! From your list, FX WC Sniper and Maverick...interchangeable barrels and big plenums. Brococks are awesome (had one loved it) but to me better suited to .22 and .177 for high power....your list screams HP PCP’s! For scopes...Athlon just came out with a very small compact Helos BTR Gen2 2-12x44 FFP with a great reticle for 500. I just purchased an Ares BTR Gen2 2.5-15x50 FFP from CameraLand NY for 559 that I really like....Athlon’s warranty is lifetime with no receipt needed. Crimson Trace has Japanese glass and are affordable. Other guns...Edgun Matador Long and Taipan Veteran Long. Have fun researching and purchasing!

[tracker1955]

Due to my health and bad back I could no longer load and unload the boat by myself so was dependant on someone going with me to help. It was time to give it up. Sold my Tracker PT175 and nearly all my fishing gear tonight to a nice guy from Murfreesboro. Bittersweet for sure but will get a new gun and bank the rest.

[tracker1955]

Thanks Randal, looking for a scope more like 5x25 or 6x24 for longer range shooting, 12x and 16x just aren't sufficient anymore after having a 6x24. Also should mention that an illuminated reticle isn't necessary but am not opposed.

[cclfn]

Thanks Randal, looking for a scope more like 5x25 or 6x24 for longer range shooting, 12x and 16x just aren't sufficient anymore after having a 6x24. Also should mention that an illuminated reticle isn't necessary but am not opposed.

I have a couple of the Element Helix that I like real well and at $400 they don't break the bank either.  They also have it in FFP for a bit more.

https://www.opticsplanet.com/element-optics-helix-6-24-x-50-mm-riflescope.html

Wes

[FuzzyGrub]

Due to my health and bad back I could no longer load and unload the boat by myself so was dependant on someone going with me to help. It was time to give it up. Sold my Tracker PT175 and nearly all my fishing gear tonight to a nice guy from Murfreesboro. Bittersweet for sure but will get a new gun and bank the rest.

From another fisherman, I feel your pain!   I hope that day is far in the future for me.

[Duckster]

Due to my health and bad back I could no longer load and unload the boat by myself so was dependant on someone going with me to help. It was time to give it up. Sold my Tracker PT175 and nearly all my fishing gear tonight to a nice guy from Murfreesboro. Bittersweet for sure but will get a new gun and bank the rest.

The two  best days in a man's life - the day he buys a boat, and the day he sells the boat.

I know what you're going through. I sold my boat a few years ago, but I still have a 17 foot canoe. Can't take it out as much as I want, it seems to be getting heavier and heavier each year. The grandsons like to go out in it, but they live 11 hours away.

[Rat Sniper (AKA: PaulT58)]

I'll echo Randall's recommendation for an FX.  You really can't beat the flexibility of tuning one, and the ability to change calibers with just a barrel/probe swap really opens the possibilities.  I just purchased an Element Helix from a member on AGN and am quite impressed with the quality.  It's a 6-24X50mm, the adjustments are extremely precise, the glass is bright and clear, and the reticle is really nice.  Optic Planet has them for $359.99 shipped with a 10% off code, but it may take a month to get it.  I have another on the way, it should be here today.  I actually got tired of waiting for the Optic Planet order to ship and bought the used one, and then, of course, the one from Optic Planet shipped.  Oh well, the new one will have a home on the Huben.   

[JimD]

I'm not selling my boat so I will wait a bit for my next PCP purchase.  But I am thinking of a dream line lite with bottle.  Much different look than the classic but I think I want the bottle.  About $100 more for the aluminum bottle.  I think I want the 30 caliber to start.  I also like the compact model but not the little bottle they put on it, I don't understand why it couldn't have the same bottle as the longer gun. 

My primary arms 4-14 FFP, side focus, is my best scope so far.  The highest magnification I have seen in them is 4-16 and you said you want more.  I think 16 is plenty but I haven not shot either of PCPs beyond 50 yards yet.  Maybe I'll want more if I do.  At 33 yards I don't even turn up to 14X.  Another option is a SWFA single magnification if you can just use the high power.  I think they offer a 20x. 

[fatmike]

I really like my dreamline with aim sport alpha.6 scope on it. And then you would still have a couple hundred to buy the wife something nice.

[Rat Sniper (AKA: PaulT58)]

I'm not selling my boat so I will wait a bit for my next PCP purchase.  But I am thinking of a dream line lite with bottle.  Much different look than the classic but I think I want the bottle.  About $100 more for the aluminum bottle.  I think I want the 30 caliber to start.  I also like the compact model but not the little bottle they put on it, I don't understand why it couldn't have the same bottle as the longer gun. 

Jim, I can help with this and offer some advice.  The larger bottle is probably too long for the Dream Lite Compact, it may interfere with the LDC being attached to the end of the barrel.  I have an older model Compact and had to go with an aftermarket bottle because mine has the fatter shrouded barrel, it's 300cc.  The newer models have the same diameter shroud as the Classic and full sized Dream Lite, but the barrel on the compact is only 320mm long on the .177 & .22, and I think it might be 380mm on the .25 and .30.  I don't recommend going with a big bore like .30 on the compact, just because the short barrel does not produce the power needed to push a heavy projectile with the energy you would probably need.  I have a Dream Classic in .25 with a 600mm barrel that produced over 55 FPE, but my .22 Dream-Tac Compact only produces about 27 FPE. 

[tracker1955]

Well after much deliberation back and forth, I finally made a decision and placed an order, decided to go for broke and ordered a new 22 cal FX Impact mk2 with 600mm barrel and moderator upgrade. Also ordered the FFP helix with moa reticle. Should arrive in +- six weeks. Will have it tuned to shoot JSB monster redesigned on high, and 18.13's stepped down. Can even try some NSA 21 and 23 grain slugs as well.

I also ordered a 1/2 20 unf thread adapter and Donny FL Tatsu for my Rainstorm 2, to make it more neighborhood friendly.

[ranchibi]

Thanks Randal, looking for a scope more like 5x25 or 6x24 for longer range shooting, 12x and 16x just aren't sufficient anymore after having a 6x24. Also should mention that an illuminated reticle isn't necessary but am not opposed.

Tom, you're welcome! At the very least you have the airgunning to turn to now! The scopes I mentioned also come in higher magnifications....also the Athlon Midas (no illumination) gets great reviews. Arken makes nice scopes and are affordable, some with no illumination so cheaper! Vortex makes scopes that are made along the same specs as Athlon, with great customer service and warranty. If you call CamerLand in NY they might give you a better price on a scope you are interested in, I want to say speak to Doug but not sure that's the owners name. If you have any questions that I can help with you can PM me if you like.

[tracker1955]

Others have told me the Helix is fine and not to worry, from a price point perspective I'm happy. Looked hard at the Midas Tac but chose to put the difference toward the rifle instead. Now I just gotta be patient and wait for a shipping/tracking # to come in my email. Am having the rifle tuned before shipping so it will be air up and tested before shipment, less chance to get a lemon out the gate.

[ranchibi]

Well after much deliberation back and forth, I finally made a decision and placed an order, decided to go for broke and ordered a new 22 cal FX Impact mk2 with 600mm barrel and moderator upgrade. Also ordered the FFP helix with moa reticle. Should arrive in +- six weeks. Will have it tuned to shoot JSB monster redesigned on high, and 18.13's stepped down. Can even try some NSA 21 and 23 grain slugs as well.

I also ordered a 1/2 20 unf thread adapter and Donny FL Tatsu for my Rainstorm 2, to make it more neighborhood friendly.

Tom, CONGRATULATIONS! Incredible rifles for sure and excellent scope! .22 is a great caliber and platform! I prefer MOA reticles too if they are available for that scope. Let us know hoe you like the set up and shooting it! You can definitely make them very quiet using a DonnyFl! I have my .22 RAW tuned to shoot 18gr pellets and light slugs (17.5gr) as it's more cost efficient, air efficient and quiet even though it originally came set to shoot the Redesigned @ 950fps....they're just too costly to shoot and gulp air with a vengeance @ that tune....louder too!

[triggertreat]

Due to my health and bad back I could no longer load and unload the boat by myself so was dependant on someone going with me to help. It was time to give it up. Sold my Tracker PT175 and nearly all my fishing gear tonight to a nice guy from Murfreesboro. Bittersweet for sure but will get a new gun and bank the rest.

I'll miss our fishing trips together, but do understand. I do still have some fish from our last trip to treasure.  That was a nice boat, and you had it fixed up really nice.

Congrats on the Impact II.  I really enjoy mine.  Hopefully we can get together and shoot again someday.  I would like to see the helix as well.

[tracker1955]

Me too, we need to get together and do some shooting as the weather warms up. My understanding is the FFP Helix is an improvement over the earlier SFP version, glass is reasonably clear until you get to lens edge. I just didn't want to spend the extra for the Midas Tac I was looking at.

[triggertreat]

Me too, we need to get together and do some shooting as the weather warms up. My understanding is the FFP Helix is an improvement over the earlier SFP version, glass is reasonably clear until you get to lens edge. I just didn't want to spend the extra for the Midas Tac I was looking at.

I have the Titan so we can compare the two when we meet up.  It's a big scope with lots of glass, but not as heavy as it sounds (to me) when on the Impact.  I already had a big scope on it before though, the 5.5-25x56 Falcon Menace.  I robbed it off of the Slayer when the Impact showed up.

[JimD]

I saw another scope I will consider when I get to the point of buying a FX.  Vortex Diamondback Tactical 6-24.  FFP, side focus, MOA or mil rad and $399.  Cyclops, who is not a Vortex fan in general, even likes the similar model (didn't review this one exactly).  50mm objective. 

Seems quite similar to Element Helix but from a bigger manufacturer of scopes and for less money.